I've been using iodophor for a little while now. I've been thinking about getting some star san and after reading this thread think I will definitely pick some up next time I'm buying brewing supplies!

You'll have a multiple life time supply of iodine for starch tests now That's what happened to me.

Kai

You just need to do more starch tests. Turn the kids loose on some potatoes.

I keep spray bottles handy all the time. When I prepare it... I will make several gallons at a time and store it in spring water jugs. It lasts a long time. If it gets cloudy it is probably on it's way out. You can check it's viability by measuring the pH. If the pH is 3 or less...it's OK to use.

Everything you read about Star San is true; I don't understand why anyone wouldn't want to use it, and I see no advantages to using any other sanitizer product in its place. There are few things in life that works 100% as advertised, and Star San is definitely one of them.

When I mix up a batch on brewday, I always fill several spray bottles as well as my sanitizer tube (a long PVC tube, capped on both ends, that I use to sanitize my longer items like sample thieves, racking canes, stir rods, etc.). As long as I keep these vessels sealed I never worry about efficacy, IMO it takes a lot longer for the Star San pH to rise than the time between batches.